A wall-mounted invention used for the display, storage and retrieval of table tennis paddles and balls. Using mounted tension clips for storing paddles across a faceplate attached at each end to cylindrical ball-dispensers. This is the first invention to allow for preferred paddle selection. The ability to pick your preferred paddle without having to sift through other paddles stored immediately in front of or in the same storage slot/insert. While some prior art have balls resting in individual circular impressions/dimples that are susceptible to dust, undesired ball-spills, and requiring individual placement and retrieval; while others contain balls within an elaborate box or mounted in a device attached directly on/to the table itself. This invention combines the benefits of prior art to store balls in proper holding position, eliminates ball jams, prevents collection of dust from vertical fall and deters balls from undesired ball-spills; and does not interfere with game play.
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1. A table tennis paddle and ball dispenser comprising: a. a left ball dispenser with a ball-input hole and a ball-output hole and a top opening and a bottom opening and a plurality of mounting holes and a mechanism for catching and holding balls for dispensing; b. a right ball dispenser with a ball-input hole and a ball-output hole and a top opening and a bottom opening and a plurality of mounting holes and a mechanism for catching and holding balls for dispensing; c. a plurality of tension clips for holding paddles; d. a plurality of ball dispenser caps; and e. a faceplate having a left end and a right end and a plurality of mounting holes wherein said left ball dispenser is attached to said left end of said faceplate and said right ball dispenser is attached to said right end of faceplate and said ball dispenser caps are attached to the top opening and bottom opening of said left ball dispenser and said right ball dispenser and said tension clips are attached to said faceplate by a plurality of bolts, lock-washers and nuts.
2. The paddle and ball dispenser of
3. The paddle and ball dispenser of
4. The paddle and ball dispenser of
5. The paddle and ball dispenser of
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7. The paddle and ball dispenser of
8. The paddle and ball dispenser of
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11. The paddle and ball dispenser of
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/736,724, filed Dec. 13, 2012.
1. Circumstance and Date of Conception
Sometime in the winter of 1992, I lay in my hospital bed recovering from my second bone marrow transplant due to Leukemia. I had built a new home in July of the same year and had lived in it for 3-weeks before heading to the hospital. I had plenty of spare time to plan the layout of my game-room that my basement would become. Amongst, my many needs, I wanted a device to hang my table tennis paddle and balls. I began searching the internet for such devices and found nothing of any merit. From that point forward (in between my life) I began thinking/drafting ideas. I began designing in 2004 and made my first prototype out of a toilet paper roll. I sent my first design out for bid in 2005. First working prototype was created in December of 2005.
2. Field of Invention
This invention most closely aligns with Class 473 Games Using Tangible Projectile, Subclass: 553, section (c) any device intended to be attached to or carried by a racket or paddle when it is not being used for its function of striking a projectile (e.g., a ball carrier attachable to a table tennis paddle, etc.)
There have been several patents issued for devices that can hold either table tennis balls and/or paddles. I don't believe any of the prior art have accomplished the task with as simple, functional and as attractive design as this invention.
Prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,172 Barringer & U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,386 Gabhart. The Barringer invention provides for the holding of table tennis equipment with a focus on, handle abrasion reduction and reducing the depth of the product to avoid accidental collision with humans. The Barringer device holds paddles in two “inserts” (shaped like duck feet) one paddle loaded on top of the other. So if you wanted your favorite paddle, you may have to remove two or possibly 5 paddles (if fully loaded) to obtain your preferred paddle.
The ball holder mechanism is complicated in design and would appear susceptible to ball jams. The ball dispenser is a moving part and would appear to be susceptible for malfunction.
The Gabhart invention likewise accomplishes the task of storing balls and paddles, but on the table instead of a wall in close proximity to the table tennis play area. The invention is limited to two paddles and two balls and is mounted directly onto the table. The major issue in this design is that a player, paddle or ball may accidently come in contact with the invention or its contents during play.
It is the intent of this invention to consider the pros and cons of the prior art, combined with new use features effective and efficient storage of table tennis paddles and balls that allow for selection of “favorite” paddle, durable product, and make improvements in design, functionality and attractiveness to players. Additional new uses include the ability to hang paddle bag carriers by magnetic hook attached to the bottom of the invention; Balls sort themselves in position for dispensing once dropped into the ball-input dispensers. The invention provides an auxiliary storage shelf for additional miscellaneous table tennis paraphernalia.
The invention is a wall-mounted table tennis paddle and ball holder. It is comprised of two table tennis ball dispensers connected by a faceplate where table tennis paddles are hung (with an additional clip accessory suitable for such purposes.)
The ball dispensers offer storage for 40 mm balls. Each dispenser is capped at the top to prevent dust from landing on the stored balls. Each dispenser also provides holes for securing the device to a wall. Balls are hand-loaded from either top side into the dispensers and free fall into place. The bottom of the dispenser contains a catch-basin that displays next ball in line to be dispensed as well as securing the ball(s) from dispensing on their own. A ball and/or paddle are extracted by hand for game play.
Drawing Numeral Reference
1
left ball-dispenser
2
faceplate
3
ball-input hole
4
ball-output hole
5
ball catch-basin
6
ball dispenser
cap
7
right ball-
8
keyhole mount
9
clip mount
dispenser
hole
10
tension clip
11
mounting
12
paddle handle
hardware
13
paddle head
14
lower mount hole
15
right ball-input
16
magnetic hook
17
paddle bag
18
paddle bag
carrier
19
rear storage shelf
Design emphasis was placed on creating the invention that satisfied the following criteria:
Prior art has accomplished the holding of table tennis paddle and balls, this art combines pros of prior art while introducing new uses not found in prior art as indicated below.
This view also clearly represents the first paddle and ball holder design that allows preferred selection of paddle without the need to move other paddles.
Prior art had dispensed balls, but none mounted as in this art with individual paddle hangers and dispensers that also reduced the amount of dust collection from settling on the balls.
Ball dispensers 1 & 7 are identical with the exception of ball-input holes 3 & 15. Ball-input holes face to the outsides of the invention allowing for ease of input of balls to be stored in dispensers 1 & 7.
A cut-away view of the rear storage shelf 19 running horizontally along the rear bottom of faceplate 2 is shown. This rear storage shelf 19 can hold additional gaming accessories like gloves, tape, packages of balls etc.
The rear storage shelf 19 is also shown in this view. This is the first combination table tennis paddle and ball holder invention to provide this specific auxiliary storage option that is in addition to the primary designed area(s) for holding of paddles or balls.
Manufacturing Process
Using
Ball-Dispenser Cap 6 Manufacture Steps
NOTE:
Ball Dispensers 1 & 7 Manufacture Steps
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